Chapter Nine – Tindra
Tindra’s skin felt so tight that she was almost afraid it was going to split open and birth a new, grotesque Tindra. Her hands found no purchase on the wet surface behind her. The glass was cold, but the water trickling down her face and Rollon's body pressed against her were both so hot that she welcomed the reprieve. Her breath hitched in her throat as his tongue flicked over her neck the way it had in the hallway after the fight.
"I could have killed you. If I had drunk from you then . . . I would have drained you dry."
"But you didn't." She grasped his shoulders, afraid he was going to move away. His nakedness against her did things to her she didn't know her body could do. Was this how it was supposed to be between two people? "You didn't."
Rollon licked her again. "It will hurt. Then it will feel good."
It was all the warning she got. His fangs sunk into her neck; as promised, a spike of pain shot from the spot. Tindra yelped, her hands tightening on his arms. It turned into a moan as he took his first gulp. The slight suckling pressure sent heat flaring through her. Her core tightened and she found herself wanting to open her legs. She slung one of them over his hip and he pressed her more firmly into the glass. He ground against her, snarling as he drank.
Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she made strangled, gasping noises, unable to stop herself. She moved rhythmically against him, wanting the hard length that pressed against her to be inside.
"Rollon," she gasped.
The pressure on her neck stopped. He moved back and she all but collapsed against him. His hands ran down her back, pulling her so firmly against him that her breasts were flat against his hard chest. Such a beautiful chest.
"The bite will heal itself in a few minutes," he told her. "There is something in vampire saliva that helps it close."
"Is it always that intense?" she searched his eyes. "Every time vampire drinks from a human?"
"No. It's because, as you said, you're attracted to me. If it was Ingrid or Hilda, or anybody else you're not attracted to, drinking would be . . . unpleasant."
"Then I'm glad I'm attracted to you." She lifted herself over him again, pressing her mouth to his. Rollon responded by pressing her back against the glass again. His tongue plundered her mouth hungrily. Her hands twisted in his long hair.
And then he was gone again. His chest heaved, but he gave her a small smile as he held her up with one hand and turned the shower off with the other. He licked her neck again, making her moan, and carried her out of the shower. Tindra wrapped her arms firmly around his neck, everything tense with excitement.
Rollon set her down in the middle of the bathroom and handed her a towel. She stared at it for a moment before following the king's lead and drying herself off. She worked as quickly as she could, then flung it away. Fire coursed through her veins as she reached for him.
"No."
Tindra froze. "N-no?"
Rollon brushed the hair from her face and took her hand. She followed numbly as he led her into the bedroom and turned down the blankets. Tindra's skin heated again as he picked her up, but he put her on the bed and tucked her in before wrapping his towel around his waist and going to a minifridge on the other side of the room.
Tindra twisted the edge of the blanket in her hands. Was Thor wrong? He said that Rollon wanted her, but if this was any indication . . . If he didn't want her, then what was she going to do with herself?
"Would you like orange juice or apple?" he asked.
"What?"
The king took something from the fridge. "I took more blood than I should have. You need some sugar and to rest."
"Rest." Her blood was still coursing through her body at double speed, that tightening inside reaching an uncomfortable level. "You're joking, right?"
"I would never joke about your health."
Tears sprang to Tindra's eyes and she avoided his gaze. "If you don't want me, just say it. I'm a big girl. I can deal with my feelings being hurt."
"Not want you?" Rollon sat on the edge of the bed. The tower gaped open and he gestured downwards. "Does the Leaning Tower of Pisa look like I don't want you?"
She had to giggle at that. If his statement was anything to go by, he wanted her just as badly as she wanted him.
"You've been through a traumatic event and I just took blood from you. Drink your juice, eat your cookies, and rest. Then we will see what we can get up to."
There was a sparkle in his eyes that made her giggle. That didn't mean she wanted to waste time eating and sleeping when they could be doing other more enjoyable things. Reluctantly, she took the juice-box. She sucked hard on it, letting her cheeks go concave, and gave Rollon a suggestive look. He made a strangled noise and stood.
"Stop," he ordered her firmly. "I'm not going to touch you until you've rested. Make it easier on yourself and just obey."
Tindra wrinkled her nose. She discarded the juice and ate the cookies, then laid down and closed her eyes. Her body was full of energy, restless and anxious. After a few minutes of trying to lay still and appear restful, she let out a deep sigh.
"Human, my patience is wearing thin." Though it was growled, there was a playful note to Rollon's threat.
"I'm trying to rest. I just can't. I'm too hopped up on vampire sexiness." As she met his eye, she spread her legs under the blankets and reached for herself. "Maybe if I take the edge off . . . "
Rollon's gaze darkened and he made another strangled noise in his throat. Tindra let herself smile as she bowed her back, applying just the right amount of pressure to herself. She moaned deeply, a bit exaggeratedly, but was surprised by how sensitive she actually was.
"You'll be the death of me," Rollon growled as he flung the blankets away.
His damp hair flopped in front of his eyes as he draped himself over her, caging her with his huge body. He pressed a hard, fierce kiss to her lips, claiming her mouth. Everything tightened further, the dying fires springing back to life. Her hands wrapped in his hair, pulling him in closer as he began to grind against her.
The spot where he had drunk from her throbbed, but Tindra didn't care. She rose her hips, alternatively pressing her feet into the mattress to increase her power and wrapping her legs around his. Rollon snarled, the sound deep. It vibrated through Tindra's chest as his mouth dropped to her breasts. He propped himself on one arm as he feasted at her offerings. The flesh seemed to swell as his teeth scraped against it, her nipples hardening as his tongue swirled around them. She panted, mewling, her hands still twisted in his hair.
"Delicious," the king purred. "Like apricots."
The heat rushing through her had nothing to do with the flush in her face at that. "You mean they're small."
Rollon sucked her whole breast into his mouth then released it with a popping noise. "I mean they're delicious. Apricots are my favorite fruit."
A surprised giggle burst from her at that, only to quickly turn to a moan as Rollon's hand slipped between her thighs. He brought one leg over his hip while pinning the other to the best and cupped her. His palm pushed against her rapidly. Her core tightened further. Her head fell back and a cry of pleasure ripped from her throat. Rollon pushed two fingers inside of her, still using his palm to tease her. He made that strangled noise that she was learning was due to arousal.
"All ready for me, huh?"
"Not yet," she panted. "I have to help you."
Rollon flicked his thumb over her, causing a surprised shout to burst from her. Her whole body jerked up and fell back down. Her eyes rounded and all the air left her lungs. What she had been saying completely fled her mind as her fingers tightened around Rollon's thick biceps.
"No need," he whispered in her ear. "I'm ready for you."
Tindra groaned, half in disappointment. She wanted to have her hands on him, to watch him become jelly under her touch.
But as he rolled her onto her back and opened her legs, she decided maybe she didn’t need it this time. He eased himself in slowly, his gaze on hers, his grip firm on her thighs. Tindra tried to raise her hips, to have him in her fully, but he held her down, controlling his descent. A smirk grew on his face as he finished his entry and sat there for a moment. She writhed beneath him, wanting more.
He reached out and ran a hand down her neck, his touch light and soft and gentle. He began moving, still achingly slow, but even just that movement was enough to make Tindra's back bow. She grasped the pillow behind her, nails digging into the fabric. Every stroke a little harder, a little deeper, eliciting a cry from her every time. The momentum built until Rollon's teeth were gritted with concentration, his grip tight on her thigh. She reached for him and he twined his fingers in with hers
Harder and harder. Faster and faster. Tindra lost track of time, staring into the eyes of her vampire king. She never wanted this to end, this moment between them. Her body screamed for release, but she fought it, knowing what would come after. He dropped over her and pressed his lips to hers.
Everything came undone.